Tai Tapu has some of the best wedding venues in Canterbury and Waipuna Estate is right up there with the best of them in our book. We were delighted to photograph Carlijn + Hugh’s wedding at Waipuna. They had carefully considered and booked some of the best wedding vendors in Christchurch, which made the day so much fun. Just like a once in a lifetime wedding should be.

Getting ready on site at Waipuna Estate is super relaxed! The rooms allocated for hair and makeup have a lot of space and are really well presented. Little things like having a walk in wardrobe and a hook to hang your dress for steaming are a real treat. Getting ready for your wedding day away from home in a room that’s purpose built for it is a really great idea. It’s stress free vibes all the way when you don’t have to tidy your house and make space for wedding vendors, family, bridesmaids and wedding photographers!

Carlijn got her beautiful Justin Alexander dress when she was travelling overseas. We absolutely adore the bow at the back of her gown. There’s something about designer dresses that just photograph so beautifully.

Carlijn’s bouquet was designed by Waipuna Estate’s in-house florist Katrin Lilla-Nel. If you’re looking for an incredibly talented florist based in Canterbury then look no further! We were absolutely blown away by her stunning florals. Katrin put together a gorgeous, modern and vibrant selection of flowers and colours which suited Carlijn’s vision perfectly.

We love doing ‘first look’ photos with our couples ahead of the ceremony. It’s a great way to get rid of those last minute nerves and get a few couple portraits done in advance (which means you can spend more time celebrating with your guests… rather than allocating the time during cocktail hour to your photos).

There were a few ‘first look’ tears of joy… while Carlijn’s lovely bridesmaids looked on with delight as our couple saw each other for the first time, all dolled up and ready to get married!

Carlijn’s bridesmaid dresses were so cool! Each bridesmaid had a different style which really suited them individually and they were all made from the same sage green fabric. How great to learn that these were actually hired! Stylish, sustainable and affordable bridesmaid dresses to hire could be the way forward. It’s much better to let your bridesmaids choose a dress that actually fits them and suits them (to keep or hire). We loved how Carlijn’s ‘My Keeper’ bridesmaid dresses were so flowy and very flattering. You could tell the girls all felt really comfortable in them.

It’s always good fun to head up into the hills with our wedding party. The laughs and adventures of clambering over farm fences to get to epic wedding photo locations is so worth it! This is documentary wedding photography at it’s best.

At Waipuna Estate we are spoilt for choice when it comes to photo locations for wedding portraits. The property itself is stunning, with incredible views across Tai Tap and beyond, to beautifully manicured garden paths, stoney hilltops and we’ll always make time to go and see our friends the alpacas!

Do you get the feeling sometimes you’re being watched?

It’s true to say… alpacas love a bouquet!

One of the most spectacular ceremony locations in Christchurch is Waipuna Estate. The white chairs and brollies set up to look out across Canterbury’s gorgeous green countryside is a beautiful place to say “I do” in New Zealand. It really doesn’t get much better than this!

After first look and wedding party photos, Carlijn and her girls went back to their room to freshen up and do some last minute adjustments to their hair and makeup. It’s always a little windy up in the hills!

With guests arriving on site… it was time to roll!

It’s always such a special moment when a bride is walked down the aisle by both her parents.

Lots of laughter and tears were shed, during the beautiful wedding ceremony conducted by Brittany Muir aka Hitched by Britt.

One big group photo right after the ceremony is a good plan to include in your timeline (just before the formal family photos).

Happy bridesmaids at the bar!

With rain looking likely, we took the opportunity to shoot a few more portraits in the gardens before the heavens opened. This kind of diffused light is perfect for wedding photos and bridal portraits. Carlijn looked so relaxed and happy!

Carlijn was channeling her inner super model without even realising it!

Our drone photos show off how spectacular the wedding location is up at Waipuna Estate.

As the sunset behind the last of the rain clouds, we headed off up the hill again with our newly weds for some twilight shots.

When we returned to the party, Pulse Entertainment was playing all the bangers. We love it when a wedding has a good DJ, as they read the crowd perfectly, making sure the dance floor keeps cranking. This is also one of our favourite parts of the wedding day as everyone is super relaxed, a little boozed up and ready to rock!

Carlijn + Hugh: “Robin + Andie are amazing! Our wedding photos are incredible, and they made the whole day super relaxed and easy. We got a great mix of photos of all the best moments of our day. The engagement shoot before the wedding was also really good. Got some lovely photos and it was good to practice being in front of the camera. Would highly recommend Robin + Andie for your wedding photography!”

Waipuna Estate Wedding Photographers: Robin + Andie

Venue: Waipuna Estate https://waipunaestate.nz

Celebrant: Hitched by Britt https://www.hitchedbybritt.co.nz

Dress: Justin Alexander https://www.justinalexander.com

Bridesmaid Dresses: My Keeper https://mykeeperclothing.com/collections/bridesmaids-dress-sets

Hair + Makeup: Ashleigh Jane https://www.ashleigh-jane.com

Florals: Katrin Lilla-Nel https://www.facebook.com/KatrinLillaNel/

Caterer: Bacon Brothers https://baconbrothers.co.nz

Grazing Board: Fern & Feta Platters https://www.fernandfetaplatters.com

DJ: Pulse Entertainment https://www.pulseentertainment.co.nz